Author: Liam

Categories
Formula 1

Ferrari claws back over Schumacher testing catfight

Ferrari claws back at Williams

Miaaooooww! Ferrari has clawed back at Williams over the British team’s refusal to allow special dispensation for Michael Schumacher to break the in season testing rules. Ferrari want to give Schumacher some track time in the 2009 F60 before the European Grand Prix which takes place later this month. The BBC reports of a Ferrari statement taking a swipe at Williams’ recent lack of success, saying they are “a team that hasn’t won anything for years and yet didn’t pass over the opportunity to demonstrate once more a lack of spirit of fair play.” Ooh, angry kitteh!

And just when things in F1 looked to settle down after the new concorde agreement had been signed, guaranteeing the status quo will remain until 2012.

Now, the Schumacher comeback has given us a new controversy to enjoy. Of course, there has been bad blood in the past between the Williams team and Schumacher (1994 and 1997). So now it is claws at ten paces in pitlane! Will Williams strike back?

[Thanks to Dave for the YouTube tips: “fair play”, “1994” and “1997”]

Categories
MINI

MINI John Cooper Works Cabrio drops its top down under

MINI JCW Cabrio

MINI Australia has announced the arrival of its latest model, the John Cooper Works Cabrio. It’s kind of a MINI Challenge racecar for the road, but without the roof, obviously!

“The MINI John Cooper Works brand continues to reinforce MINI’s authenticity, providing enthusiastic sports drivers a range of vehicles powered by the very same engine that’s used in the MINI CHALLENGE race series,” said Justin Hocevar, National Manager MINI.

That means JCW Cabrio owners will enjoy 155kW from their 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, which is boosted by a twin-scroll turbocharger. MINI say this is the fastest Cabrio they have sold, and with a 0-100km/h sprint of 6.9 seconds it’s not too shabby off the line at all. The real joy of this engine, though, is its torque. The addition of a well sorted twin-scroll turbocharger means peak power is all yours from a low 1850rpm and available right through to 5600rpm. Peak torque is 260Nm, with MINI’s familiar Overboost function nudging things along to 280Nm.

The JCW Cabrio is fitted with a six-speed manual transmission ensuring the driver has complete control over that sweet, sweet engine. Its gearing also helps achieve an impressive fuel consumption figure of 7.1l/100km. Although, in testing the JCW hardtop, I discovered the gears are matched very well to the available power and that great economy does not come at the expense of unnecessarily tall gearing.

As to be expected the JCW Cabrio comes with a lot of fruit, and with a list price starting at $56,900 it would want to.

There’s a large image gallery on offer after the jump, along with MINI Australia’s full press release.

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Categories
MINI Random wallpapers

Random wallpapers: MINI 50 Camden

MINI 50 Camden

MINI is a company not short on PR prowess, so when a major milestone like a 50th anniversary comes along they’re not going to think twice about exploiting a marketing opportunity. One such opportunity is the MINI 50 Camden special edition. Full details of the car can be viewed at MotoringFile.

Suffice to say the blacked out headlights and White Silver metallic paint colour look fantastic. If ever there was a road car calling out for some custom Martini Racing stripes, this is it!

There’s also a limited edition MINI 50 Mayfair, but the less said about that brown exterior the better!

The MINI 50 Camden is being considered by MINI Australia, but if a decision to bring the car down under has been made MINI company execs remain coy.

So, for now then we’ll have to make do with looking at these pics. Simply click on the images to launch a 2000px super image. If, like me, you reckon this car looks damn good then a new opportunity to enjoy the car will present itself at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show where the MINI 50 Camden will be on display.

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Categories
BMW Formula 1

Wheel of fortune

BMW Sauber F1.09 steering wheel

While researching for pics to accompany the sad news that BMW will be pulling out of F1 at season’s end I stumbled across these images of the BMW Sauber F1.09 steering wheels. For an up close and personal look click on the pics for 2000px super images. The wheel above is Nick Heidfeld’s, take the jump to see Robert Kubica’s wheel. Explanations of just what all those buttons, dials and switches do are also included below.

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Categories
Mazda Motorsports

Zoom Zoom – Oh what a feeling!

Osborne Motorsports - Mazda3 MPS

Osborne Motorsports is a team synonymous with Toyota. Nineteen years of racing the product does that, I guess. Now, though, that is all about to change with news that Colin Osborne has bought two Mazda3 MPS cars which have seen racing action most recently in Targa Tasmania. The cars will be used in the 2010 Australian Production Car Championship.

As well as racing in the APCC Osborne Motorsports have competed in recent years at the Nürburgring 24 hour race at the wheel of a Toyota Corolla. No doubt a race spec 190kW Mazda3 MPS would up the ante somewhat around the Green Hell. No word yet as to whether Colin and his team will be taking an MPS to the Ring in 2010, but you can bet the thought has crossed their mind!

Full statement after the jump.

Continue reading “Zoom Zoom – Oh what a feeling!”
Categories
Lamborghini

The Gospel according to Lamborghini Miura

The Lamborghini Miura Bible

The Lamborghini Miura is one of the world’s most beautiful supercars. If, like me, you are unlikely to ever own one you can now make do with a 272 page hardback book The Lamborghini Miura Bible by Joe Sackey.

The first print run was published in November 2008, but it sold out in just a few months. The newly reprinted edition means the results of Sackey’s 20 years of research and 450 photos of the gorgeous Miura can now be yours!

More details after the jump.

Continue reading “The Gospel according to Lamborghini Miura”
Categories
Formula 1

Frank Williams says “No test drive for you!”

Michael Schumacher

It seems not everyone is jumping for joy at Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula One.

The current ban on in season testing means that Schumacher is yet to take the wheel of the 2009 F60 machine. Ferrari were seeking approval to have that ban relaxed for a single day of testing to allow Michael to get familiar with the car.

Sir Frank Williams, meanwhile, was having none of that. Indeed, as recently as the last Grand Prix new Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari was not given an opportunity for a pre-race test drive prior making his debut at the Friday test session on race weekend. On that basis Williams voted against any moves to allow Schumacher freedoms that have already been denied to other drivers this season. Then there is also the fact that Ferrari could have chosen one of their test drivers who have pre-season testing miles behind them already.

“In a similar situation, Williams would unhesitatingly use its current test driver,” Sir Frank said. “For the sake of consistency and fairness, therefore, we oppose Ferrari’s proposal to test ahead of the European Grand Prix.”

Felipe Massa’s recovery is going well and he hopes to be back on track as soon as possible. You can catch a brief interview with Massa on the BBC website.

[Source: TimesOnline]

Categories
Ford Motorsports

Peak Performance – It’s no Climb Dance, but it’s still pretty good

Peak Performance - Marcus Gornholm

Back in 1990 Jean Louis Mourey gave the motoring and cinema world Climb Dance. A five minute epic, if there can be such a thing, capturing Ari Vatanen‘s mad scramble up the famous Pikes Peak Hill Climb.

Fast forward 19 years and here is the latest short film centred around the Pikes Peak event. This time Marcus Grönholm is featured. The two-time world rally champion is at the wheel of an 800hp Ford Fiesta.

Boil the kettle, make yourself a cuppa, click the jump and enjoy.

[Thanks to Mark & John for the tip.]

Continue reading “Peak Performance – It’s no Climb Dance, but it’s still pretty good”
Categories
MINI

This is the internet, you can’t stop me watching this

MINI USA TVC

In Australia we have killjoys that can prevent a car manufacturer from broadcasting an entertaining television commercial. This is because, apparently, the sight of a sliding car means you will lose all sense of perspective and hit the streets without a care in the world for anyone else’s safety, much less your own. The skills you have learned from such exposure will set you on an uncontrollable path of death and destruction. IT MUST BE STOPPED!

But this is the internet, where you can learn to make bombs and stuff. Even though our PM is trying to control what we watch online, neither he nor any nanny-state loving wowser can stop you enjoying the three 15 second MINI ads shown after the jump.

You will see smoking tyres. You will see a sliding MINI. You will see some entertaining commercials. But, you will not die!

[Thanks to Chris for the tip]

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Categories
Fiat Motorsports

“It was good fun and nobody got hurt”

Kimi Raikkonen crashes our of Rally Finland

Kimi Raikonnen’s Rally Finland experience came to an abrupt halt when he crashed out on SS19 yesterday. Three YouTube clips of Kimi in action can be seen after the jump, including a brief interview with Kimi, who seemed in good spirits after the spectacular accident.

Climbing out of his car after the rollover Kimi can be seen to matter of factly dust his hands and walk away. While it appears he didn’t show much concern for his co-driver I’m sure he would have made sure he was okay before exiting the car. Don’t you think?

[Thanks to Paul for the tip]

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Categories
MINI Challenge

Chris Alajajian gets some air at Sandown

Round 4 of the 2009 Australian MINI Challenge is taking place at Sandown this weekend. Chris Alajajian currently sits in second place on the series table, however his chances of clawing back some points on championship leader Paul Stokell were done no favours after this spectacular crash in yesterday’s first race.

The accident happened on the opening lap and forced organisers to cancel the race. Fortunately, Alajajian was not injured and spoke philosophically after the incident, “I’m OK, but the car isn’t that flash. I got tapped in the right rear wheel as we went into the corner, I think it’s turn six, and then I got on to the grass and everything sped up dramatically. From there I was just hanging on.”

Alajajian, starting well down the field in 13th, had made a the most of a bumper start taking advantage of some front runners spinning ahead and had reached 4th place before his crash.

[Source: Racecar.com]

Categories
MINI Challenge

James Tomkins takes on MINI Challenge

James Tomkins (pictured left)

Australian Olympic legend and all round nice guy James Tomkins (pictured left) is taking a seat in the MINI Challenge Uber Star Car this weekend at Sandown International Raceway.

Tomkins is a self confessed motorsport tragic and he couldn’t wait to get out there, “I’m pretty excited,” he admitted, “Motor Racing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I have memories of getting up early Sunday mornings to watch the black and white TV coverage of Bathurst. All those awesome HO Falcons, those were the days!”

There is no live television coverage of the MINI Challenge round this weekend, but stay tuned for a highlights package on your TV screens soon.

Continue reading “James Tomkins takes on MINI Challenge”